CCEA approves scheme on National Mission on Medicinal Plants

New Delhi, July 24 : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval for the centrally sponsored scheme of National Mission on Medicinal Plants at a total outlay of Rs.630 crore for implementation through National Medicinal Plants Board, through Department of Ayush during the 11th Plan.

The Mission, by 2011-12 proposes to cover 80,000-1,00,000 hectares of land under medicinal plants through direct financial assistance for cultivation.

An almost equal area which will be covered by incentivisation of farmers who may switch over from traditional crops to medicinal plants in areas where infrastructure for quality planting material, processing, warehousing, marketing, quality testing and certification is promoted through cooperatives of growers, self help groups and corporate.

About 200 nurseries will be established both in public and private sector, for making available planting material of certified quality.

The approval will benefit in developing medicinal plants sector through production of raw material of quality and standardized constituents for use by the AYUSH/herbal industry and as well as for exports and thereby enhance the quality and acceptability of AYUSH systems of medicine and promote export of value added items for a increased share in the world market.

ANI